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PANJIM: International Master (IM) Nitish Belurkar achieved his second Grandmaster norm at the 5th International Festival of La Plagne Soliel Masters Tournament, held in France, recently.
Nitish remained undefeated to score seven points out of nine with a performance rating of 2624 and a rating gain of 19 Elo points. Nitish had achieved his first Grandmaster norm in the Vezerkepzo Grandmaster tournament in Hungary.
Nitish defeated amongst others, tournament top seed Grandmaster Jules Moussard (2591). He also drew with International Master Iniyan Pa (2558), Grandmaster Bauer Christian (2552), Grandmaster Yuri Solodovnichenko (2521) and Grandmaster Girrel Joseph (2500), besides defeating Van Volsem Merlijn (2453), FIDE Master Hald Falkesggard Jeppe (2307), Riberie Damien (2227) and FIDE Master Fantin Ludwig (2117).
Altogether, 171 players from 23 countries participated in the tournament. Grandmaster Yuri Solodovnichenko of Ukraine won the tournament scoring 7.5 points, while IM Nitish Belurkar was placed third with seven points. With a rating gain of 19 Elo points, Nitish now moves from 2453 to Elo rating of 2472, 28 Elo rating points and one Grandmaster norm away from achieving the coveted Grandmaster title.